Wire-stretcher



' w. L. TOMPKINS.

WIRE STHETCHER. APPLICATION HLEDMAY a, 1m

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

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WALTER L. TOIVIPKINS, 0F FRISCO, TEXAS.

\VIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. a, 1921.

Application filed. May 6. 1918. Serial No. 232,731.

To all whom itmag concern:

Be it known that I, 11mm L. T02. :nINs, a citizen of the United tates, residing at Frisco, in the county of Collin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers or tighteners and has particular reference to a tool or device of this character for stretching or tightening the wire when constructing a wire fence or for similar purposes.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a wire stretcher which, on account of its novel construction and arrangement, is unusually strong and well adapted to wire stretching.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wire stretcher which is capable of being adjusted to various heights to suit the requirements of wire fence construction.

Other objects and advantages will bccome apparent as the description of the in vention progresses.

Briefly, my invention consists of parallel bars spaced apart to form a frame, one end of which frame is forked to bear against and partially encircle a fence post, the other end of the frame being adapted to be removably supported on a relatively long pointed rod or stake which, driven into the ground, gives the frame a firm and rigid support while the wire is being tightened. Between the parallel bars constituting the frame is arranged a small drum upon which the wire is to be wound in the stretching op eration and this drum is arranged to be turned through a ratchet operated by a bar or handle.

My invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the-accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my wire stretcher.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section of the drum and ratchet mechanism, and

Figs. 1 and 5 are respectively side and plan views of the wire drawing hook.

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the wire stretcher is composed of two sections 1 1, each section being formed of the two angle iron frames 22 bent in the manner shown and connected at their ends by plates 3 and centrally by plates 1-. A rod 5 connected to the central plates 41holds the sections l1 in parallel relation. The ends 6 of each section 1 are forked as shown in Fig. 2 to abut and inclose a corner of a post when the stretcher is in position.

Attached to the opposite end of the frame is a relatively long cylindrical rod or stake 7, the lo "er end pointed and shown as broken apart for better illustration. This rod or stake 7 is driven through the holes 8 in the ends of the connecting plates 3 and into the ground and a pin placed in one of the holes 9 in the rod 7 to support the frame 1 at the proper heights. 1 Other similar holes not shown are placed in the rod 7 at equal distances apart to allow the Wire in the fence which is being tightened to come into alinement with the drum and cable.

The stretching drum is mounted to turn upon a bolt 10 which spans the sections 1-1 of the frame, serving also to more firmly.

connect the sections. The drum is in the form of a ratchet clutch, one member 11 of which is forced under tension of a spring 1 1 into locking engagement with the other member 12 on which the wire or cable is to be wound. The ratchet teeth 13 between the contacting faces of the clutch are in looking engagement when the member 11 is turned by the bar or lever 15 in one direction, but the member 11 when moved in the opposite direction rides over the teeth of the other member, being retracted slightly against tension of spring 1 1 to permit of this movement.

A pawl 12 engaging the ratchet 12 on drum member 12 serves under influence of its spring 12 to prevent retrograde movement of member 12.

Attached to the end of the wire rope or cable 17 is a claw hook 18, the wire to be stretched fitting into the V shaped wedge 19 which is roughened as shown to firmly grip the wire. The hook 18 is fastened to the cable 17 by a clamp 20 with bolts and nuts as shown. The end of the rope 17 is attached to the drum 12 preferably by a rivet 21 in the interior 22 of the drum.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A wire stretcher comprising a frame con sisting of two pairs of bars each pair spaced apart and connected at the center by a rod the two bars of each pair connected at each end and curved slightly outward to receive a ratchet and drum and a fork on one end of each pair of bars to engage a post, the opposite ends of the bars slotted to receive 10- a supporting member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER L. TOMPKINS. 

